What a cello actually costs, in 2026.

The numbers below are broad brackets used by working teachers, luthiers and dealers as of 2026. They are not offers and they are not valuations. Any specific instrument may sit above or below these ranges depending on its maker, its condition, its paperwork and — often — who is selling it.

Currency is euros. Prices in USD or GBP are typically in a comparable range depending on exchange.

• Serious student cello: roughly €3,000 to €8,000. New, workshop-made, often from an established European atelier.
• Advanced student / young professional: roughly €8,000 to €25,000. Better-quality new instruments and modest antique examples.
• Contemporary single-maker cello: roughly €15,000 to €60,000+ depending on the maker's reputation and waitlist.
• Antique French 19th-century cello: broadly €40,000 to several hundred thousand euros — highly dependent on maker and provenance.
• Antique Italian cello: a much wider range, often from six figures into the millions for top makers.
• A serious bow: often €3,000 to €30,000 for a working bow; historic French bows can exceed this by an order of magnitude.

Two apparently similar cellos can be separated by a factor of five in price on the strength of paperwork alone. See How to evaluate an old violin before buying — the same principles apply.

The desk's honest advice: budget for the instrument, the bow, and an independent expert opinion. Do not budget only for the instrument.